I found this beautiful picture on SpaceWeather.com last week. Here’s the story about what you’re seeing:
GOLDEN BEACON: The sun was setting in Toronto last week when, suddenly, a golden beacon leaped up from the horizon. “It lasted a good 15 minutes,” reports Damir who took this picture:
The “beacon” is a sun pillar created by plate-shaped ice crystals fluttering down from high cold clouds. Flat sides of the crystals catch the rays of the setting sun and bend them into a tall luminous column as shown. Look for sun pillars when the sun is near the horizon and shining through high clouds–they’re a nice addition to any autumn sunset.
Click on the image for the large, majestic photo. And be sure to visit SpaceWeather.com – you’ll like it.
